MY HUSBAND AND I ARE SPENDING CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK AND NEW YEAR'S EVE IN TOKYO. THIS IS A LONG-AWAITED TRIP WITHOUT YOUNG CHILDREN, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO CELEBRATE IN A MEMORABLE, GROWN-UP WAY. WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
S. CHING, RANDWICK
In New York you'll want to take in the Christmas window displays along Fifth Avenue between 59th Street and Macy's at 34th. Don't miss the giant Christmas tree and maybe put on skates and take a turn around the ice-skating rink at the Rockefeller Centre. On Christmas Eve you might like to take in the carols in Washington Square Park. The city's performing artists put their best foot forward for Christmas and one of the highs of the season is the York City Ballet nycballet.com performing George Balanchine's version of The Nutcracker, a traditional favourite. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is precision dancing as you've never seen it before, also at the Rockefeller Centre musichall-ny.com.
Christmas dinner is not such a food fuss in the US, but The Plaza fairmont.com would be a good choice if you want your Christmas dinner with pomp and circumstance.
If you're still in New York City on December 26, the post-Christmas sales are something you won't want to miss.
In Tokyo, great places to soak up the atmosphere on New Year's Eve are the neighbouring Shinjuku and Shibuya districts, where the bars, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants will be packed and pumping.
The centre of New Year's Eve celebrations is Tokyo Bay, the scene of a huge fireworks display. Another takes place at Tokyo Tower.
Midnight on December 31 also marks the beginning of the honourable tradition of hatsumode, signalled by the ringing of temple bells 108 times. Many Japanese will take part in hatsumode, the first visit to a shrine or temple of the new year. Expect a festive atmosphere and big crowds at places such as the Meiji Shrine and Sensoji in Asakusa.
